How Long Is the Year in Vimshottari Dasa
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www.BhaktivedantaCollege.org How Long is a Year In Vimsottari Mahadasa? Copyright © 1998–2000 Shyamasundara Dasa The following are typical questions from my students: “The question is about mahadasa-periods calculation. I noticed that there are two possibilities, namely 360 and 365 days-per-year. I heard some Vedic astrologers saying that it works best with 360 day/year. Also Srimad Bhagavatam mentions 360 day/year. On the other hand I've seen some astrologers use 365 day/year (like yourself, Asutosh Ojha, Arkasomayaji - all in Prabhupada’s horoscope analysis). Can you tell me the reason for this difference? What is by your experience, the proper method? Why is there a difference at all?” Another argument has been put forward for following 360 days/year for calculating the Vimsottari Mahadasa. This was sent to me by a student in Australia: “I once had a conversation with a jyotishi here in Australia who told me he uses the 360 day calendar as opposed to the 365 day calendar when calculating Vimsottari dasa. His argument was, why should we use a solar based calendar for calculating a lunar based dasa system?” This issue of 360 versus 365 day/year for calculating Vimsottari Mahadasa has caused a lot of confusion and unnecessary ink to flow. But it wasn’t always this way, it has only become an issue in the last 100–150 years. The reason why it has become an issue, and what the real situation and solution is will become clear as we explore this controversy. Let us begin by pin-pointing what the actual issues are and then answer them: • What is the significance of 360 versus 365 day year? • What is the basis for determining time? • How is the year measured? • Is there more than one type of year, if so what are they? • What is meant by reference to 360 and 365 day/year? • Is the 360 day year advocated for Mahadasa usage some how “Moon” related and the 365 day year “Sun” related? • What is the relationship between the Solar and Lunar year? • How were calendars prepared by astrologers in pre-British India? • How long was a year for Mahadasa calculations according to classical texts? 1 www.BhaktivedantaCollege.org • Does using 360d/y give “better” results than using 365 d/y? In the following discussion I will often call the solar year the 365 day year, but actually it is about 365.25. I shall occasionally round it off to 365 for convenience. What is the significance of 360 versus 365 day year? If we were to use a 360 d/y rather than a 365.25 d/y, for mahadasa calculations after some time they would become more divergent. After one year they would only be different by five days, but in six years it would be a gap of 31.5 days (counting leap years). After 35 years it would be about six months out of phase and after 70 years a whole year out of phase. Thus the older the person got the farther out of phase the mahadasas would be. Thus using the 360 d/y, Jupiter mahadasa may start at age 35 but at age 35y 6m using the regular year of 365 days. This would introduce serious difficulties in timing events especially in regards to the Bhuktis. This difficulty would only increase with age. What is the Basis for Measuring Time? How is the Year Measured? Of all the Rishis who received knowledge of astrology, Parasara Rishi is considered the most important and is called the father of astrology because in Kali-yuga only his work has survived in whole. His text Brhat Parasara Hora Sastra is a dialogue between Parasara Rishi and his disciple Maitreya Muni. In Srimad Bhagavatam 3.8.8–9, Maitreya explains to Vidura how Parasara learned the Srimad Bhagavatam and in turn taught it to Maitreya. Why is this important in a general discussion of the controversy over whether the year in Vimsottari Mahadasa is a 360d/y or 365d/y? The answer is that three chapters later in SB3.11, Maitreya, the great devotee-astronomer-astrologer (and disciple of Parasara), explains to Vidura how time is measured in the chapter entitled Calculation of Time, From the Atom. In this discussion, of which relevant portions will follow, we shall see that the motion of the Sun is the basis of measuring time. This has been accepted by all the Rishis and is reflected in such astronomical texts as Surya-siddhanta and Siddhanta- siromani and can be seen in the ways in which the Vedic calendar, though lunar, is calculated. More will be mentioned about the Lunar calendar being dependent on the Solar year later. The following information is from the Srimad Bhagavatam 3.11.1-16, entitled Division of Time From the Atom. We have also included the clarifying purports (“p”) of Srila Prabhupada for the benefit of students who do not yet have a copy of Srimad Bhagavatam. From a close study of these texts we shall see how really advanced the Vedic philosophy actually is and how ignorant and arrogant modern science is. If we actually want to advance, even materially, we should stick closely to the perfect knowledge contained in Vedic literatures such as the Srimad Bhagavatam. I have italicized certain portions of particular interest: “[Maitreya speaking] The material manifestation’s ultimate particle, which is indivisible and not formed into a body, is called the atom. It exists always as an invisible identity, even after the dissolution of all forms. The material body is but a combination of such atoms, but it is misunderstood by the common man. (1)” 2 www.BhaktivedantaCollege.org “The atomic description of the Srimad Bhagavatam is almost the same as the modern science of atomism, and this is further described in the Paramanu-vada of Kanada. In modern science also, the atom is accepted as the ultimate indivisible particle of which the universe is composed. Srimad Bhagavatam is the full text of all descriptions of knowledge, including the theory of atomism. The atom is the minute subtle form of eternal time.”(1p) [We should note that the “atom” mentioned in the Vedas is not necessarily identical to the “atom” of modern physics which is being continually broken down into sub-atomic particles.] “Atoms are the ultimate state of the manifest universe. When they stay in their own forms without forming different bodies, they are called the unlimited oneness. There are certainly different bodies in physical forms, but the atoms themselves form the complete manifestation. One can estimate time by measuring the movement of the atomic combination of bodies. Time is the potency of the almighty Personality of Godhead, Hari, who controls all physical movement although He is not visible in the physical world. (2–3) “Atomic time is measured according to its covering a particular atomic space. That time which covers the unmanifest aggregate of atoms is called the great time. (4) “Time and space are two correlative terms. Time is measured in terms of its covering a certain space of atoms. Standard time is calculated in terms of the movement of the sun. The time covered by the sun in passing over an atom is calculated as atomic time. The greatest time of all covers the entire existence of the nondual manifestation. All the planets rotate and cover space, and space is calculated in terms of atoms. Each planet has its particular orbit for rotating, in which it moves without deviation, and similarly the sun has its orbit. The complete calculation of the time of creation, maintenance and dissolution, measured in terms of the circulation of the total planetary systems until the end of creation, is known as the supreme kala.” (4p) [Note. In this purport we again see the direct connection between the planets and the time factor and thus by inference the connection to astrology. It is seen that though all the planets are important from the point of view of the time factor, still the Sun has special importance.] “The division of gross time is calculated as follows: two atoms make one double atom, and three double atoms make one hexatom. This hexatom is visible in the sunshine which enters through the holes of a window screen. One can clearly see that the hexatom goes up towards the sky.(5) “The atom is described as an invisible particle, but when six such atoms combine together, they are called a trasarenu, and this is visible in the sunshine pouring through the holes of a window screen.(5p) “The time duration needed for the integration of three trasarenus is called a truti, and one hundred trutis make one vedha. Three vedhas make one lava.(6) “It is calculated that if a second is divided into 2109.375 parts, each part is the duration of a truti, which is the time occupied in the integration of eighteen atomic particles. Such a combination of atoms into different bodies creates the 3 www.BhaktivedantaCollege.org calculation of material time. The sun is the central point for calculating all different durations.(6p) “The duration of time of three lavas is equal to one nimesa, the combination of three nimesas makes one ksana, five ksanas combined together make one kastha, and fifteen kasthas make one laghu. Fifteen laghus make one nadika, which is also called a danda. Two dandas make one muhurta, and six or seven dandas make one fourth of a day or night, according to human calculation.(7–8) “The measuring pot for one nadika, or danda, can be prepared with a six-pala- weight [fourteen ounce] pot of copper, in which a hole is bored with a gold probe weighing four masa and measuring four fingers long.